It was a beautifully warm morning in the Enchanted Forest, as it always was during this time of the year, and the town of Sherwood was bustling with joyful people. Yet there was one man who didn't fit in. He, unlike all the others around him, seemed upset about something, and from the expression on his face, you could tell that he was suffering from a broken heart.
The man sat for about ten minutes, on an old, crumbling doorstep, staring into the forest that seemed to encircle the town, as if he were waiting for someone to walk from it. All of a sudden, a young boy, who seemed to be only four or five years old, came sprinting towards him, with his arms out wide, and a huge grin spread across his face. "Papa! Papa!" The young boy yelled. Hearing those words, the man looked up and you could almost see his eyes light up as he watched the boy dart between passing town folk, desperately trying to reach his father. When he did, the man swept him up in his masculine arms, and squeezed him tight. "Hello Roland. What have you been up to today?"
"Well, I went to..." But before he could finish his sentence, a large man came striding over, a smirk beginning to form on his face. "Well, well, well. This is a surprise. Robin Hood. I never thought that I would see your smug little face here again." He said "And who might this be?" He gestured to Roland.
"This is my son. Is that against your rules Nottingham, to bring my son to Sherwood"
"Of course it isn't. You and your son are most welcome here, for today. But wait. Where is that awful wife of yours? Marian, wasn't it?"
This disheartened Robin. A mere six months ago, Robin, Marian and Roland, had stayed with a kind bandit, named Snow White. She had offered them food and shelter and a place to sleep for the night. Unfortunately the next morning they had found themselves surrounded by the Black Knights. Luckily, Robin was able to escape with Roland, and thanks to Marian, Snow was able to do the same. However, the Black Knights captured Marian, and was taken somewhere, deeper into the forest, to the leader of the Black Knights, The Evil Queen.
"Well, whatever happened to her, I think you've overstayed your welcome. If I ever see you, or any of your silly little family in Sherwood from this day forth, then you will regret it for the rest of your sorry little life!" And with that he walked away, leaving Robin and his son alone. They both sat in silence for a while, and then finally, Robin said to Roland, "Come on my little man. We need to go, OK?"
"OK Papa."
With that, the two set off into the forest, heading away from the town that Robin knew that he could never return to.
After many tiring days of trekking through the endless forest, Robin gave up all hope of ever finding another village to live in. He was lost, and depressed, and wished for nothing more than a warm bed and a hot meal for himself and Roland. The pair had travelled a great distance, and were tired and hungry, when they came across a cobbled path. It looked as if it stretched on for miles and miles in both directions, but it had to lead somewhere. However, before they had a chance to decide which way to go, a hooded figure stepped out onto the road opposite them. He was tall and intimidating, and just his presence made Roland hide behind his father for protection. Before he could stop himself, Robin had strung an arrow in his bow and aimed it at the heart of the mysterious figure.
"Well that won't help you much here dearie!" The man said, almost laughing as he watched Robin's confused face. "Don't you recognise me?" As he said this, he slowly lowered his hood, revealing his cracked skin and rotted teeth. Robin gasped, and tumbled backwards, taking Roland down in the process. "Please, forgive me, Dark One." Robin pleaded to the man, grasping his son with all his remaining strength.
"Don't worry. If I had wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already, dearie." The Dark One stated, with a small smile beginning to form on his lips. "No, I'm here, to make a deal."
"And what deal might that be?" Robin inquired, his curiosity growing by the second. "What could you possibly want from me and my boy?"
"Why your services of course!" The dark one replied, as if that had been obvious the whole time, "You are a thief, aren't you, Robin Hood?"
"How do you know my name?" Asked the Outlaw, shocked at the fact that the Dark One knew who he was.
"I know all, dearie. Now, answer my question. Are you a thief?"
Robin nodded, and a wide grin spread across the face of the Dark One. "Then we have much to discuss." And with those words, he waved his hand, and the three of them vanished in a cloud of dark red smoke, leaving no traces of ever having set foot into the forest.
When the trio reappeared, they seemed to be inside what looked like the great hall of a castle. Without hesitation, the Dark One pulled a chair from the grand dining table, and sat down on it, gesturing his hand towards two others, obviously welcoming the thief and his son to sit with him. Robin seemed almost frightened by the Dark One, so chose to sit a good few seats away from him, ushering his son along, and encouraging him to sit down in the chair beside him. "So, Robin Hood. I need you to steal something for me. You see, quite a long time ago, I gave away a precious item to a certain 'person'. Now, this item has great power, and will grant any one wish that your heart desires, assuming that your wish conforms to the laws of magic, of course. I need you to steal it back for me!" Rumple stated, looking from the outlaw, to his son, and then back to the outlaw again. "And what would you give me in return, after all, you said this was a deal!" Robin said, almost wishing he hadn't, as the Dark One gave him a smirk. "Well, I was just about to bring that up. Perhaps, this may persuade you to accept my deal." With that, he waved his hand again, and a rather large pile of gold appeared on the table in front of Robin and Roland. "This could be yours. You could raise your son the way he deserves to be raised. You can have a proper life together. And all you have to do, is steal a magic mirror!" the Dark One chuckled, "Do we have a deal?"
"Y-yes" Robin stuttered, amazed at the opportunity to raise his child the way he had always wanted to. "But, where exactly do I find this 'Magic Mirror'?"
"Ah, well you see, dearie. It is owned by a powerful sorceress. Her name is Regina, but you probably know her better by her nickname, 'The Evil Queen'!"
Robin swallowed, suddenly feeling very hot, with beads of sweat slowly making their way down his forehead.
"This..." He continued, as he waved his hand and a map appeared. "...will lead you to he palace. In her chambers, you will find a small, hand held mirror. That is the mirror I seek. Once you have it, and are safely away from my palace, you will call my name, and I will appear. Then, and only then, will you get your gold."
"But, how will I call your name if I don't know what it is?" Stated Robin, in a confused manner.
"My name, is Rumplestiltskin." He said, "Now leave my castle, before I change my mind and incinerate the both of you!" And with that, the thief and his son stood, and walked out with the map in hand.
Robin was yet to realise that this decision would be one that changed his life forever.
